TDB signs ₹151 crore RDI Fund agreement with ideaForge for YETI heavy-lift autonomous cargo UAV
On 14 October 2026, the Technology Development Board signed an agreement with Mumbai-based ideaForge for ₹151 crore debt support under the RDI Fund to develop YETI, a heavy-lift VTOL cargo drone.
Summary
The Technology Development Board (TDB) of the Department of Science & Technology announced on 14 October 2026 an agreement with ideaForge Technology Limited, Mumbai, for ₹151 crore of debt financing under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund. The ₹302 crore project will take YETI, an autonomous vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing hybrid UAV, from Technology Readiness Level 4 to TRL-9. YETI is designed to carry payloads up to 200 kg over a targeted range of 200 km and operate up to 6,500 m above mean sea level, with GNSS-denied navigation and swarm operations. It needs only about a 15 m x 15 m landing area, useful for high-altitude, desert and marine logistics.
Key facts
- Agency
- Technology Development Board (TDB), DST
- Company
- ideaForge Technology Limited, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Support
- ₹151 crore debt financing under RDI Fund
- Project cost
- ₹302 crore
- Platform
- YETI — autonomous VTOL fixed-wing hybrid UAV
- Payload / range
- Up to 200 kg / up to 200 km
- Altitude
- Up to 6,500 m above MSL
- Goal
- TRL-4 to TRL-9
- Landing area
- About 15 m x 15 m
Practice MCQs 2 questions
YETI, a heavy-lift autonomous aerial logistics vehicle supported by TDB under the RDI Fund in October 2026, is being developed by which company?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ideaForge Technology Limited
What is the designed payload capacity of the YETI heavy-lift UAV supported by TDB?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Up to 200 kg